I'm reading a lot from the right (which of course makes me instantly question it's authenticity) that Hurricane Sandy is the reason Obama won because it stopped that Romney momentum thing, etc. Utter rubbish. The most accurate of all the polls was the PPP poll that predicted the EXACT outcome both by state and electorally. You know when they reached their conclusion? In June.

I'm reading a lot from the right (which of course makes me instantly question it's authenticity) that Hurricane Sandy is the reason Obama won because it stopped that Romney momentum thing, etc. Utter rubbish. The most accurate of all the polls was the PPP poll that predicted the EXACT outcome both by state and electorally. You know when they reached their conclusion? In June.

Hell, Silver was telling folks a week before Sandy showed up that Willard's "momentum" had stalled.

I'm reading a lot from the right (which of course makes me instantly question it's authenticity) that Hurricane Sandy is the reason Obama won because it stopped that Romney momentum thing, etc.... You know when they reached their conclusion? In June.

I'm reading a lot from the right (which of course makes me instantly question it's authenticity) that Hurricane Sandy is the reason Obama won because it stopped that Romney momentum thing, etc. Utter rubbish. The most accurate of all the polls was the PPP poll that predicted the EXACT outcome both by state and electorally. You know when they reached their conclusion? In June.

...at least one highly visible Republican mega-donor is wondering whether his money was spent the way he wanted it to be. The problem, retired mutual fund executive Foster Freiss told The Los Angeles Times for an article published Thursday, has to do with transparency.

“You have no idea of the financial structuring of a lot of these outside groups in terms of how much went to the actual delivery of a message,” Friess said, “versus how many dollars were taken off as fees to the people running them.”

Friess told the Times he’d ideally like a change to campaign finance rules that would allow donors like him to give their big checks directly to candidates. Nevertheless, having just spent $5 million on a losing effort doesn’t make Friess think the giving to outside groups is going to slow.

"...Much of the conservative media is simply far more cozy with the Republican Party than its Democratic counterparts (as exemplified by the numerous Fox hosts and contributors who moonlight as Republican fundraisers), which makes necessary detachment difficult. Having an opinion isn't an obstacle to good journalism or analysis, but no one wants to derail their own gravy train. Departing from the party line, particularly if one does so in a manner that seems favorable to Obama, would be to reveal one as an apostate, a tool of liberalism. There were independent-minded conservative analysts who diverged from this trend, but few were listening to them."

Bought into the unskewed polls bullshit. Told the press he didn't have a concession speech prepared. Put up a President-Elect webpage before the results were in. None of them saw it coming.

I mean, weigh all that together and then consider the effect such systematic rejection of reality would have had on policy decisions had Romney somehow won. People who voted for Romney weren't just condoning his or his party's naked bigotry or the man's near total lack of personal integrity, they were supporting an epically delusional fool in his quest for ultimate power.

Yeah, I really want a guy like that weighing all the consequences on bombing Iran and deciding where the red line is.

So fucked up. Future historians, if there are any, will look back horrified that things were at all this close. That at such a technologically advanced stage in human development almost half the population of the most powerful nation on Earth could choose such an utterly ridiculous, untrustworthy, bigoted and willfully ignorant buffoon to be their leader.

So fucked up. Future historians, if there are any, will look back horrified that things were at all this close. That at such a technologically advanced stage in human development almost half the population of the most powerful nation on Earth could choose such an utterly ridiculous, untrustworthy, bigoted and willfully ignorant buffoon to be their leader.

[snip]
So fucked up. Future historians, if there are any, will look back horrified that things were at all this close. That at such a technologically advanced stage in human development almost half the population of the most powerful nation on Earth could choose such an utterly ridiculous, untrustworthy, bigoted and willfully ignorant buffoon to be their leader.

This particular phenomena is what I call information disease. (Note: link is not safe for work nor for those of a delicate constitution.)

The human mind filters new information through the prism of the information it already contains. If enough 'diseased' information is fed to the mind, and the functions that judge that information are damaged or repressed, all future information is rejected or damaged by the mind. The disease becomes self sustaining.

As a former serviceman, I recently qualified for a program called VRAP, which will allow me to go to a school for up to a year. There are basically four requirements to the program, the two most important being that you have to be unemployed at the time of your application, and that you select a program from an approved list of "high demand" careers.

The program pays a stipend of $1,564 per month, provided the schooling is considered full-time. The veteran has to pay for the cost of the schooling out of that stipend.

Tuition at the trade school I'm going to will run about $350 per month; my rent is about $475 per month. That's $825, which will leave about $175 a week for food, bills and other expenses.

I also want to note that the VRAP program -- somewhat embarrassingly called the "Vow to Hire Heroes Act" (at least for those of us fortunate enough to have served during peacetime) -- passed the House of Representatives on a 422-0 vote and in the Senate on a 95-0 vote.

I also want to note that the VRAP program -- somewhat embarrassingly called the "Vow to Hire Heroes Act" (at least for those of us fortunate enough to have served during peacetime) -- passed the House of Representatives on a 422-0 vote and in the Senate on a 95-0 vote.

Sometimes, bipartisanship works.

Did Ron and/or Rand Paul abstain because they thought it was unconstitutional?

I also want to note that the VRAP program -- somewhat embarrassingly called the "Vow to Hire Heroes Act" (at least for those of us fortunate enough to have served during peacetime) -- passed the House of Representatives on a 422-0 vote and in the Senate on a 95-0 vote.

Sometimes, bipartisanship works.

You volunteered to let them do with you what they wanted. Just because they didn't do their worst with you doesn't mean you didn't offer. You don't need to reject the 'hero' tag when it's given.

I think they underestimated how determined hispanics, african-americans and women became to vote thanks to the relentless hate war the GOP waged against them. I guess it didn't occur to them that while they were whipping their base into a hate frenzy, it might effect the targets of that hatred as well.

“You have no idea of the financial structuring of a lot of these outside groups in terms of how much went to the actual delivery of a message,” Friess said, “versus how many dollars were taken off as fees to the people running them.”

When your party is defined by greed, what the hell do you expect? You donated that money expecting a financial return for your own personal enrichment, right? You think the people taking your money are doing it for the public good?

New Senator Jeff Lake was just on NPR. He's saying exactly the same thing as Boehner: we'll work with Obama but only on revenue increases via supply side techniques.

The talking points have been issued.

If they don't get with the program and they end up putting us back into a recession, voters will remember in 2014. But these idiots aren't known for thinking long-term... or about the country for the matter.

New Senator Jeff Lake was just on NPR. He's saying exactly the same thing as Boehner: we'll work with Obama but only on revenue increases via supply side techniques.

The talking points have been issued.

"The people voted and decided that we need to compromise and work together. So we think that the best way to compromise is by continuing to act exactly as we were before the election and keep blaming you for all our screw-ups. The part where you come in is agreeing to be our scapegoats."

DIANE SAWYER: A couple of other questions about the agenda now. You have said next year that you would repeal the healthcare vote. That's still your mission?

JOHN BOEHNER: Well, I think the election changes that. It's pretty clear that the president was reelected, Obamacare-- is the law of the land. I think there are parts-- of-- the healthcare law that-- are gonna be very difficult to implement. And very expensive. And as-- the time when we're tryin' to find a way to create a path-- toward a balanced budget-- everything has to be on the table.

DIANE SAWYER: But you won't be spending the time next year trying to repeal Obamacare?

JOHN BOEHNER: There certainly may be parts of it that we believe-- need to be changed. We may do that. No decisions at this point.

When will these morons give up on supply side economics? It clearly doesn't work and all it does is create the deficits these fuckwits spend all their time complaining about.

They won't, because it's basically an article of faith. Check out the fawning accounts of the "Chilean Economic Miracle," which are both counter-factual with regards to the country's economic development, and carefully gloss over every other aspect of the Pinochet regime.

Supply-siders are either crooks that know better or true believers that don't.

But bskillet81, head of the Christian Men's Defense Network, has an alternate theory that may be worth pursuing. In a piece called "What the Right Doesn't Get About Elections" (currently set to private, along with the rest of his site — thankfully Google cache is "something God intended") — bskillet81, apparently his party's answer to Nate Silver even though his name sounds more like my friend from summer camp's AOL screenname, knows the truth: the Democrats had a multi-pronged strategy that enabled them to get out the Slut Vote. Here's how it worked:

1. Obama knew he needed those lady votes, and he knew, as does everyone, that most ladies are sluts.

Women make up about 54% of the electorate. It is very hard to win without winning that segment, or at least losing it only narrowly while winning men big. While the right usually wins married women, the fact is that married women constitute an ever-decreasing share of the female population. Women want to delay marriage as long as possible so they can "have it all," and usually "have it all" means "have as much hot alpha sex as possible without any consequences." And thus, less married women and more sluts (not that these two groups are mutually exclusive, per se)

...

In conclusion, Romney was just too feminist to win the slut vote. Or, in bskillet81's words:

However, this election cycle shows that the Slut Vote is real, and Republicans lose because they discount the existence of original sin in women. Abortion is often called the "third rail of American politics," but in truth, the third rail is a woman's right to slut (with cash and prizes).

Basically, from all the sounds of it, Boehner's remarks to ABC tonight lay out the GOP strategy for the next 4 years: Talk a lot about "compromise" and "bipartisanship" in the early months while continuing to act as they're bargaining from a position of power, then blame the Democrats when no bargains are made and nothing is getting done.

I just saw the end of a Fox News show, Baier I think, that showed a supposedly funny series of clips of Obama, very fast and with no apparent point except that the only words I could distinguish repeatedly were "can't touch us" and "homeboy".

Well, the good thing is this is happening right now, after the election. The momentum is on our side.

Fuck the GOP and their lies. Bipartisanship my ass. Show it.

Negative.

4:39PM EST November 8. 2012 - WASHINGTON — Read John Boehner's lips: No new taxes.
President Obama, Senate Democrats and a majority of the American people may say the wealthiest Americans need to pay more taxes, but the House speaker is standing his ground in opposition to raising rates.

"Raising taxes on small businesses will kill jobs in America. It is as simple as that," Boehner said today in a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY in which he repeatedly spoke of finding "common ground" with Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

It comes out today that Iran fired on an American drone in international airspace. Maybe (my bet) they just wanted to register a shot across the bow and see how well our Predator could fly doing ACM. Maybe they were bad shots, but I doubt that. That smells of somebody believing too much of their own bigoted bullcrap. And kudos to President Obama for keeping this close until after the vote!

oops did I just shout?

My food for thought question is how seriously should we even take that? It's a drone. Has the same humanity as a toaster. And we don't want an escalation, OMG.

On the harsh side we have the fact of shots fired over international waters. Critical airspace. Critical waters.

The more they pray for victory the less campaigning for victory they do.re: #79 wrenchwench

I'm laughing at MEN!

////{Gus}

Men have spent so many years laughing at women, minorities and everything else while mounted on our high horses we've forgotten how to laugh at ourselves. Anybody else laughing at us hurts our sensitive feelings.

My food for thought question is how seriously should we even take that? It's a drone. Has the same humanity as a toaster. And we don't want an escalation, OMG.

The implication that we know they fired on it and failed (how?) implies some interesting things. I would suspect the next Iranian aircraft to fire on a US-flagged piece of equipment in international airspace is likely to find it a less pleasing experience.

My food for thought question is how seriously should we even take that? It's a drone. Has the same humanity as a toaster. And we don't want an escalation, OMG.

On the harsh side we have the fact of shots fired over international waters. Critical airspace. Critical waters.

It's probably not that serious. Despite the claims, it's entirely possible we were flying in their airspace. Also this is a public sign that they don't have the technology to accurately shoot down our drones.. Obama signed in a new round of sanctions today but the Iranians seem intent on enduring a lot of pain to maintain their nuclear program.

The implication that we know they fired on it and failed (how?) implies some interesting things. I would suspect the next Iranian aircraft to fire on a US-flagged piece of equipment in international airspace is likely to find it a less pleasing experience.

It's also possible that this was a trial to let them shoot at a drone to test their capabilities. If it was a test, they failed it.

Maybe so. New issues to think about. As soon as you try to provide fighter cover for a drone you may wind up with a nest of issues. The point of the things is to avoid all that. Risk a fighter plane & pilot protecting a drone and you kinda lost the point of using a drone to begin with.

Sheesh so much doctrine being written as we go. Drones are controversial on many levels. Tactical, civil liberties, costs. On and on. We need them but we better pioneer this right.

There is a morality issue IMO in shooting down a person to defend a toaster, uh, drone. Is it smart to kill over a camera robot when you are not at war? I'd say not. looking forward to seeing our policy unfold.

Maybe so. New issues to think about. As soon as you try to provide fighter cover for a drone you may wind up with a nest of issues. The point of the things is to avoid all that. Risk a fighter plane & pilot protecting a drone and you kinda lost the point of using a drone to begin with.

Sheesh so much doctrine being written as we go. Drones are controversial on many levels. Tactical, civil liberties, costs. On and on. We need them but we better pioneer this right.

There is a morality issue IMO in shooting down a person to defend a toaster, uh, drone. Is it smart to kill over a camera robot when you are not at war? I'd say not. looking forward to seeing our policy unfold.

Michael Barone: it's Obama's fault the GOP doesn't get along with Obama because Obama hasn't won them over. Or something.

Ronald Reagan, speaking the language of the old, universal popular culture, could appeal to both Americas. His successors, not so much. Barack Obama, after an auspicious start, has failed to do so.
As a result, there are going to be many Americans profoundly unhappy with the result of this election, whichever way it goes. Those on the losing side will be especially angry with those whose candidate won.

I strongly urge all other libertarians to do the same. Are you married to someone who voted for Obama, have a girlfriend who voted 'O'. Divorce them. Break up with them without haste. Vow not to attend family functions, Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas for example, if there will be any family members in attendance who are Democrats.

Do you work for someone who voted for Obama? Quit your job. Co-workers who voted for Obama. Simply don't talk to them in the workplace, unless your boss instructs you too for work-related only purposes. Have clients who voted Democrat? Call them up this morning and tell them to take their business elsewhere.

Have a neighbor who votes for Obama? You could take a crap on their lawn. Then again, probably not a good idea since it would be technically illegal to do this.

It's probably not that serious. Despite the claims, it's entirely possible we were flying in their airspace. Also this is a public sign that they don't have the technology to accurately shoot down our drones.. Obama signed in a new round of sanctions today but the Iranians seem intent on enduring a lot of pain to maintain their nuclear program.

Well that technology goes back to late world war one. A drone has got to be an easy target. Fish in a barrel. I'd hate to assume they are that inept. Iran is not some tiny backward nation.

It's also possible that this was a trial to let them shoot at a drone to test their capabilities. If it was a test, they failed it.

Get real. If the Pilot of that fighter had the skill to fly it, don't you think he also had the knowledge to use the on-board fire control system to knock out a drone? To discount that is not only ridiculous, but insane.

Maybe so. New issues to think about. As soon as you try to provide fighter cover for a drone you may wind up with a nest of issues. The point of the things is to avoid all that. Risk a fighter plane & pilot protecting a drone and you kinda lost the point of using a drone to begin with.

Sheesh so much doctrine being written as we go. Drones are controversial on many levels. Tactical, civil liberties, costs. On and on. We need them but we better pioneer this right.

There is a morality issue IMO in shooting down a person to defend a toaster, uh, drone. Is it smart to kill over a camera robot when you are not at war? I'd say not. looking forward to seeing our policy unfold.

Drones will be shot at and some will be destroyed. Part of the concept in a UAV is not having to worry about getting a pilot or aircrew killed. The USA will not start a war if a drone gets shot down.

If we had drones then, no need to pursue the small craft. If that had been a Navy helicopter this time around we could be at war. Or a lot closer to it. This is like the waters between Cuba and Florida in the 1960's. Tight space, hostile forces too close together and an excess of angry rhetoric from one side. Sanctions are shortening tempers.

Get real. If the Pilot of that fighter had the skill to fly it, don't you think he also had the knowledge to use the on-board fire control system to knock out a drone? To discount that is not only ridiculous, but insane.

I suppose it's possible that the Iranian missed intentionally as warning shots or something but a drone is a big trophy for them. I assume if the did open fire they probably wanted to hit it.

I googled a bit to see what kind of countermeasures those things can carry. Not much reliable info.

from wiki on AIM-92:

Operational history

An Iraqi MiG-25 shot down a Predator drone performing reconnaissance over the no fly zone in Iraq on 23 December 2002. Predators had been armed with Stingers, and were being used to "bait" Iraqi fighter planes, then run. In this incident, the Predator didn't run, but instead fired one of the Stingers after the MiG engaged with its own missiles. The Stinger's heat-seeker probably became "distracted" by the MiG's missile and so missed the MiG, and the Predator was destroyed. This was the first time in history a conventional aircraft and a drone had engaged in combat.[1][2]

An Iraqi MiG-25 shot down a Predator drone performing reconnaissance over the no fly zone in Iraq on 23 December 2002. Predators had been armed with Stingers, and were being used to "bait" Iraqi fighter planes, then run. In this incident, the Predator didn't run, but instead fired one of the Stingers after the MiG engaged with its own missiles. The Stinger's heat-seeker probably became "distracted" by the MiG's missile and so missed the MiG, and the Predator was destroyed. This was the first time in history a conventional aircraft and a drone had engaged in combat.[1][2]

Stingers have a dodgy kill ratio anyway, IIRC. Besides, a lot has happened in the intervening decade.

Thirdly, I believe we all need to express disgust with Obama and Democrats in public places. To some extent I already do this. Example:
When I'm at the Wal-mart or grocery story I typically pay with my debit card. On the pad it comes up, "EBT, Debit, Credit, Cash." I make it a point to say loudly to the check-out clerk, "EBT, what is that for?" She inevitably says, "it's government assistance." I respond, "Oh, you mean welfare? Great. I work for a living. I'm paying for my food with my own hard-earned dollars. And other people get their food for free." And I look around with disgust, making sure others in line have heard me.

I am going to step this up. I am going to do far more of this in my life. It's going to be my personal crusade. I hope other libertarians and conservatives will eventually join me.

What I plan to do this week, is to get yard signs made up, at my own expense, that read, "EBT is for Welfare Moochers." I will put the signs out on public property off of the right-of-way so it's entirely legal, in front of every convenience store or grocery store that has a sign out saying "EBT Accepted Here." I may even do some sign waving in front of these stores, holding up my "EBT is for Welfare Moochers," sign, and waving to passers-by.

If I meet a Democrat in my life from here on out, I will shun them immediately. I will spit on the ground in front of them, being careful not to spit in their general direction so that they can't charge me with some stupid little nuisance law. Then I'll tell them in no un-certain terms: "I do not associate with Democrats. You all are communist pigs, and I have nothing but utter disgust for you. Sir/Madam, you are scum of the earth." Then I'll turn and walk the other way.

Buttons. Boy, you can have a lot of fun with this. I plan to make up a bunch of buttons, and wear them around town, sayings like "Democrats are Communist Pigs," or "Welfare moochers steal from hard-working Americans," "Only Nazis support Seat Belt laws" or "No Smoking Ban: Nanny-Staters go Fuck Yourselves."

WOW.

If Breitbart were still alive even HE'd be telling this guy: "Dude, CALM down."

I've actually seen this guy, well someone like him. He is a regular at the northside WalMart- and he did this long before the election. I was behind him and a young family who had a very new baby, and they were using WIC, a nutrition program for pregnant women, infants, and small children here in Wisconsin, and their vouchers (they don't have a card for them yet, still paper) had to be verified by a manager. He was asshole enough to start insulting them, and OMG when he started in on the baby, I lost it. Best part, he was escorted to another line and then out the door, I stayed where I was and waited for them to get their items, which was baby formula, which was necessary because the mom had diabetes, and had not been able to nurse because of blood glucose issues. . .she seemed to need to explain why she needed the items, which reminded me of all the times I feel I have to explain to strangers that my son is not spoiled, he is autistic.

I've actually seen this guy, well someone like him. He is a regular at the northside WalMart- and he did this long before the election. I was behind him and a young family who had a very new baby, and they were using WIC, a nutrition program for pregnant women, infants, and small children here in Wisconsin, and their vouchers (they don't have a card for them yet, still paper) had to be verified by a manager. He was asshole enough to start insulting them, and OMG when he started in on the baby, I lost it. Best part, he was escorted to another line and then out the door, I stayed where I was and waited for them to get their items, which was baby formula, which was necessary because the mom had diabetes, and had not been able to nurse because of blood glucose issues. . .she seemed to need to explain why she needed the items, which reminded me of all the times I feel I have to explain to strangers that my son is not spoiled, he is autistic.

Don't you just love those folks who have it all figured out in a snapshot?

Local news outlets have reported that carbon monoxide poisoning has sickened dozens of people in more than 10 Northeast states in Sandy’s wake. Now, as newly powerless residents throughout the storm-struck region crank up generators after a nor’easter brought record early snow and winter weather, the potential for more deaths is high, officials warn.

It just tore at my heart- she had that haggard, new mom, haven't slept in weeks look, and was crying as this guy lit into her and called her child a leech, the dad was just trying to ignore it, but red faced and fists clentched, I figured if I didn't do something, she'd have even more to worry about. I was training for the Tough Mudder at the time and felt invincible:)

Just in case this hasn't been posted 300 times already, here's 25 minutes of a full-metal wingnut apparently live-blogging ranting during election night. Of COURSE she's drunk, and of COURSE she pays homage to that great statesman, Andrew Breitbart (in between bouts of coprolalia).

I've actually seen this guy, well someone like him. He is a regular at the northside WalMart- and he did this long before the election. I was behind him and a young family who had a very new baby, and they were using WIC, a nutrition program for pregnant women, infants, and small children here in Wisconsin, and their vouchers (they don't have a card for them yet, still paper) had to be verified by a manager. He was asshole enough to start insulting them, and OMG when he started in on the baby, I lost it. Best part, he was escorted to another line and then out the door, I stayed where I was and waited for them to get their items, which was baby formula, which was necessary because the mom had diabetes, and had not been able to nurse because of blood glucose issues. . .she seemed to need to explain why she needed the items, which reminded me of all the times I feel I have to explain to strangers that my son is not spoiled, he is autistic.

To some people, labelling makes it real. This implies that if you don't label it it isn't real.

The upshot of this is that autism didn't exist in the past so kids were just spoiled, weird, stupid, or geeky.

Funny you should say it didn't exist- I tend to disagree. You mention labels, and I believe autism has been around for awhile, we just never called it that, which was a HUGE point of contention between my ex and myself when it came to how to treat him.

Just in case this hasn't been posted 300 times already, here's 25 minutes of a full-metal wingnut apparently live-blogging ranting during election night. Of COURSE she's drunk, and of COURSE she pays homage to that great statesman, Andrew Breitbart (in between bouts of coprolalia).

[Embedded content]

It's not as sad/amusing as "Shut Up Little Man", but it's right up there.

To some people, labelling makes it real. This implies that if you don't label it it isn't real.

The upshot of this is that autism didn't exist in the past so kids were just spoiled, weird, stupid, or geeky.

There once was a time when we attributed symptoms of schizophrenia to the work of demons, crop failure to the incantation of witches, and monsoons to the failure of throwing enough virgins into volcanoes.

I learn so much during a troll takedown. I really do. I hope that this person is not one, but if so, I usually take notes, especially if it is a climate change issue. . .I've learned a lot about that here, and like to share with my sons.

Funny you should say it didn't exist- I tend to disagree. You mention labels, and I believe autism has been around for awhile, we just never called it that, which was a HUGE point of contention between my ex and myself when it came to how to treat him.

I wasn't saying it didn't exist.

I'm saying there is a subsection of our culture who refuse to believe that problems like autism exist, or that they need special treatment. The argument they give is that if the kids were just treated like everybody else they'd be fine. They're invariable someone who didn't have a problem like autism (I have high functioning autism and Aspergers in my family) so they see things from an isolated perspective.

Actually, this technology was invented by accident. They were trying to come up with a realtime English grammar correction engine, and this was the result. They couldn't figure out how to fix it, so they just repackaged it and issued a press release.

I learn so much during a troll takedown. I really do. I hope that this person is not one, but if so, I usually take notes, especially if it is a climate change issue. . .I've learned a lot about that here, and like to share with my sons.

You can always just ask. There are a shitload of well informed lizards here.

Actually, this technology was invented by accident. They were trying to come up with a realtime English grammar correction engine, and this was the result. They couldn't figure out how to fix it, so they just repackaged it and issued a press release.

google is the new microsoft, which was the new ibm before ibm became the new ampex, or maybe sun